The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-02-09
slashed With a Razor.

NEW YORK, Feb. To-day a free fight
took place on the pier of the Morgan line of
steamers, between a number OF Italians
and striking 'longshoremen. After the
police separated the combatants, John
0'Neil, 'longshoreman, was found lying on
the pier weltering in his blood, and near
him lay an open razor. O'Neil had deep
slash down his back. He was removed to
the hospital in an unconscious condition.
The boss stevedores to-day held a meeting
and took measures to fill the places of the
strikers tomorrow. Brooklyn coal dealers
and their clerks have been delivering coal
to-day guarded by police. Doctors at the
in person twelve tons of coal to that institu-
tion. The strikers overturned one cart in
Brooklyn to-day, but were chased away by
the police. The strikers themselves have no
coal, and because of their idleness they are
earning no money to buy coal.
The strikers whom Police Inspector Steers
met when he made his tour of the North
River front today acknowledged to him that
they were beaten. Freight was offered in
less quantities than is usual on Monday and
the green handlers were nearly equal to it.
There were more men applying for work at
the piers than could'be accommodated with
places.
The assembly committee to inquire into
the cause of the strike met again to-day.
Frederick A. Potts, president of the New
York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad,
gave an outline of the coal mining and coal
handling industry, with the prices at the
mines, the prices at the Jersey City docks,
the lighterage, trimming and the wholesale
and retail prices in New York City. 1t was
difficult to estimate the cost OF transpsrta
ton. He then outlined the plan of the coal
pool; said that the companies forming it
did not abide by its terms, and that in July
last coal was at the lowest point in the his
tory of the trade. He believed in arbitra-
ton, if the decision of the arbitrators could
be enforced.
Austin Corbip, president and receiver of
the Reading road, testified that his company
has seventy mine collieries, and produces
from 6, 100000 to 1000 600 tons of coal an
nually. The collieries are over 100 miles
from tide-water. Large expense is involved
in returning empty coal cars to the mines
from tide-water. This is not included
in the accounts of the companies. The
Philadelphia Coal and Iron Company, whose
stock is owned by the Reading Road, mines
and sells its own coal, paying FOR its trans
portation like any other company. Last
year that company lost 81, ,2S6, 600. The
only profit IN the collieries was to the rail-
road companies for transportation. 1t ex-
actly balances the loss to the coal and
iron companies. The workingmen mada
several million dollars more out of the coal
buiiness last year than the coal company
did. Mr.. COrbin stated that two weeks ago
he was summoned to Harrisburg by the Gov
ernment of Pennsylvania. He was informed
then that the company had violated the laws
of that State in combining to raise the price
of coal and must desist. At the same
time the receivers of the railroad COM
pany were threatened with ousting, and they
did not make better showing. They stood
between two fires They can not increase.
their revenue by raising prices; can not
make any profit at present prices; are
threatened with vacation of ohe receiver
ship if they don't make more money, and
threatened by their employees If they don't
pay more wages. His company increased
their miners wages about per cent. in
March last. Mr.. Corbin's remedy for the
troubles between capital and labor was arbi-
trated, but he could not advance any plan.
His company had had trouble with their
men some months ago, which was settled sat
isfactorily by arbitration. The company
had endeavored to live up to the decision of
the arbitrators, and the workingmen were
satisfied. But it was said now that
they. would 60 out again, not because
they were dissatisfied, but because some
one else who works for another company is
dissatisfied. There seems to be no plan by
which an arbitration law can bind the work
ingmer. The Reading Road had lost over
SIC, ,000, 900 in the coal business Prices were
now below a profitable point.
Edwin r. Holden, second vice-president
of the Delaware, LackaWanna and Western
Railroad and Canal Company, said it was a
fact that his company had paid the trimmers
more this year than ever before, yet had re-
reiyed less for their coal than in former years.